Eisenhower was a do-nothing president. Assess the validity of
this view.
PARA 1
No - Domestic Policy Education, Health and Welfare
- successful in his advance of domestic policy, due to his accomplishments within
Education, Health and Welfare. Passed in 1958, the National Defence Education Act
granted low-cost loans to college students, and federal funds to states in order to
improve various courses such as Maths, Languages and Science.
- This was in hopes to aid America during the Cold War struggle, while acting as a strong
response to the launch of Sputnik by the Soviets
- National Defence Education Act was the rst time federal aid was given to education.
Eisenhower increased Social Security bene ts, adding another 10 million Americans to
its coverage in 1955, while the following year legislation was successfully passed which
added 500,000 acres to the national park system.
Yes - domestic policy of Education, Health and Welfare, as many of his proposed
legislation did not succeed.
- 1955, Eisenhower proposed legislation to nance school construction in states with
less money, as in the 1950s there was a shortage of schools and teachers, heavily
damaging education.
- This bill was then rejected in 1955, highlighting that due to his relationship with
congress who often criticised him, Eisenhower was prevented from greatly succeeding
in his domestic policy.
PARA 2
No - Economy and Employment
- 1953-7, the cost of living rose by 2.8% but factory wages by 8.6%, proving how
Eisenhower's interventions helped to stimulate the economy and America became
more prosperous under his dynamic conservatism
- 1955 the minimum wage was raised from 75 cents per hour to $1, challenging the
Republican ideas of free market and allowing America to nancially ourish
- 1956, The Federal Aid Highway Act became the largest peacetime public works
project in American history, with 41,000 miles of Interstate Highways being built over
the course of 20 years, which revolutionised American roads
Yes - criticism and poverty
- Despite achieving a balanced budget in 1956,7 and 60, with little in ation or
unemployment during his presidency, one in four Americans still lived in poverty,
undermining the economic prosperity of the period, as it was 40 million in total.
- Eisenhower was criticised by both Democrats and Republicans due to his defence
cuts, accusing him of leaving the US vulnerable, especially after the launch of Sputnik
by the Soviets in 1957.
PARA 3
No - accomplishments within Civil Rights
- 1957, the school board of Little Rock, Arkansas, voted to desegregate their schools,
which led to the Little Rock crisis. Due to the extreme racism and violence that was
in icted on African American students, Eisenhower intervened to support a Supreme
Court ruling as federal authority was outed by a State Governor.
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, - 1957 and 1960, Civil rights legislation was passed, which was signi cantly
groundbreaking as this was the rst for 100 years
Yes - di culties within Civil Rights
- Despite providing legislation in 1957 and 1960, It was very weak and made little
di erence to the number of African American people voting in the South, proving it had
little signi cance
- Eisenhower never spoke in favour of the Brown Ruling 1954, Murder of Emmett Till
1955, or the Bus Boycott in 155-6, as he did not support the idea of rapid change and
government intervention within Civil Rights
- Eisenhower was also unwilling to use his moral authority as President of the US to
advance the most important movement for social justice of the 20th century, proving
how he was not driven to succeed within Civil Rights, and did not bene t the
movement.
PARA 4
No - accomplishments within dealing with McCarthyism
- Eisenhower used the Hidden Hand strategy, as he worked behind the scenes to
undercut senator McCarthy and his attacks. He rode above the fray of politics while
secretly using the White House in uence to obstruct any of McCarthy's plans
- Eisenhower invoked executive privilege, meaning any administration o cials and all
executive branch employees would ignore any call from McCarthy to testify, yet again
undermining him
- Eisenhower ultimately believed that McCarthy would destroy himself, as in 1954
McCarthy held televised hearings on communism in the army, where he was seen as a
bully with little evidence to support these claims, resulting in his loss of popularity. As a
result of this, Eisenhower removed McCarthy's ability to subpoena witnesses and
access to government records, leading for the Senate to censure him in 1955.
Yes - di culties when dealing with the spread of McCarthyism
- 1953, Eisenhower tried to avoid the entire issue, in hopes that the senate would silence
McCarthy. As a president, Eisenhower did not want to appear ‘Soft’ in regard to
McCarthyism, yet communist spies, like Alger Hiss, still in ltrated the State Department
- Keen to maintain the dignity of his presidency, Eisenhower refused to engage directly
with McCarthy, highlighting a timid approach to the issue.
CONC Eisenhower's presidency saw substantial change in the economy that had long
term a ects on America, his lack of determination and work within Civil Rights, and his
failure to confront McCarthy proves that he was a ‘do-nothing president’, who failed to
achieve signi cant domestic aims.
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